Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization of styrene with benzoimidazole dithiocarbamate as a reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer agent

Two novel dithiocarbamates [2‐Y‐benzoimidazole‐1‐carbodithioic acid benzyl esters: Y = methyl (1b) or phenyl (1c)] were synthesized and successfully used in the reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of styrene in bulk with thermal initiation. The effects of the temperatures and concentration ratios of the styrene and RAFT agents on the polymerization were investigated. The results showed that the polymerization of styrene could be well controlled in the presence of 1b or 1c. The linear relationships between ln([M]0/[M]) and the polymerization time (where [M]0 is the initial monomer concentration and [M] is the monomer concentration) indicated that the polymerizations were first‐order reactions with respect to the monomer concentration. The molecular weights increased linearly with the monomer conversion and were close to the theoretical values. The molecular weight distributions [weight‐average molecular weight/number‐average molecular weight (Mw/Mn)] were very narrow from 5.3% conversion up to 94% conversion (Mw/Mn < 1.3). © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 560–564, 2006